please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Went in on a quiet Saturday afternoon (no sport here), one table of diners, one young couple, all tables marked as reserved except for two small ones. Good menu but very expensive, as are the ale prices - £3.80 or so. It needed a refurb but now has no character, could be any other food pub in Reading.
In short then, a Gastropub and a not very inviting one at that, right next to a large campus university; great thinking by the pubco Business Diminishment Managers.
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My Grandparents Harry and Georgina Rex moved from The Sailors Home West Street to The Queens (family called it this) in 1923 Grandfather's Licence was granted on 1st February 1923. He held Licences up until his death in 1943, and it was then transferred to my grandmother on 3rd February 1944.Her last licence was granted on 14th February 1957. Loved it there as a child with all the little pergolas out in the yard full of red roses, and honeysuckle all over the far wall. I did make a visit there in 2009 and the young landlord showed me around, did not recognise The Queens, gone was my grandmother huge kitchen, and the fantastic staircase, that my cousins used to zoom down - quite scary. Will go back soon and sample their food. Slightly different to my Grandmother and Aunty Edie's cakes and cooking. As you may guess from this post I am heavily into Family History. Our family ave been in the Licensing trade since the 18th century. All but one of my Grandfathers sons were in the same trade too and in many Reading Pubs However NONE of my cousins did.
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This must be the most improved pub in Reading at the current time. Been going there for 30 years and it has always been a friendly pub full of interesting people. It was in dire need of refurbishment however and now that Spirit House have taken over its running the pub has been transformed. The interior would be unrecognisable to former customers and the pub has gone decidedly upmarket serving excellent food and a good selection of well kept real ales. The dart board, pool table and juke box have all gone, and the decor is Indonesian as are some of the dishes. I thoroughly recommend a visit.
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No longer a pub as such; more a Thai knocking shop. "Love you long time".
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Newly refurbed, under new management and with a broad menu of high quality food at honest prices (though with a range of deals throughout the week) this is well worth a visit for food or just drinks at the bar (including real ale) with or without the children! I highly recommend a visit - we will definitely be returning!
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Right by the University, full of fit young female students and serves real ale especially the Loddon beers in good condition.
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Good stuff - they do have 3 Loddon beers on (Hoppit/Hullabaloo and Ferrymans Gold )when I visited today and they were OK. Also 2 ciders and they do food - all day by the looks of it. Prices were fair (�2.95 - �3.10) and they are on the Ale Trail so let's hope they get good reviews from other punters
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Apparently they now sell 3 Loddon Brewery beers - and quite a bit of it from what we hear. This needs to be checked but if true then this is good news for this little pub which is the nearest to the University and on bus routes as well.
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I think this is one of those pubs that it depends what time you go in and what you're looking for. Most people I know in there are the 'after work' set and there's quite a good buzz then, with a few pints and a bit of fun banter and the sort of teasing that locals can get away with and nobody takes it too seriously.
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Not much real ale here, a choice of only two of which one was OK. This was a Sunday, when they had a barbecue which consisted of inedible stale rolls with a tiny sausage just bigger than a cocktail sausage. Aso available were pork ribs with enough meat on them to feed a mouse. Dont bother!
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It seems this pub can't quite make up it's mind if it's a real ale pub or not. The have three handpumps but two of them serve something that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike real ale - Courage Best or Adnams. The thrid one can give you a pint of something decent, the last time I went (12th May 2008) it was Summer Lightning. The quality of the real ale usually varies between just-about acceptable and very good, although on one occasion I had to reject a pint.
The decor looks like it has not been changed since about 1973, but I think that adds a certain charm.
The real claim to fame is the Cafe Scientifique evenings they hold here sometimes, where visiting academics do talks and Q/A sessions every now and then. If you are intellectually curious, you can enjoy and lecture and a pint! Otherwise, there's the other bar.
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Two-roomed studenty local, big screen for the footy and a quiz on Tuesday nights. Jean the landlady is excellent for banter but you don't see her often. Pics of her and former student bar staff on their graduation day hung up along the bar - is she the ultimate gatecrasher?!?
3 standard ales - Summer Lightning, Adnams Broadside and Courage Best. Usually well-served, not had a bad one yet and I've had many. Small concrete beer garden for the smokers.
Will stand by my comment that the place needs a good clean and a lick of paint - it looks quite tired now there's not a thick fug of smoke in the air. Should also get some basic student grub in - missing a trick there.
Plays host to informal 'info over a pint' lectures given by the university during term time. Check the uni's website for details, I would recommend them and a good USP for the pub too.
A good little local - but could achieve more.
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Enjoying this place more and more each time I go in, standard of beer is pretty good, enjoyed the Tuesday night quiz and the punters are a friendly lot. Well worth calling my local.
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Low-brow studenty pub, could do with a lick of paint and a clean. Functional beer garden out the back, plus quizzer.
Three ales on last week, including an unusual choice in Gribble's Plucking Pheasent. Beers are served OK.
Worth it if visiting or studying at the uni.
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Obviously very studenty, rather smoke-filled - not for long, roll on July 1st - decent range of beers. OK, but nothing special. Old fashioned feel to lounge bar.
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The food is nice, the beer is rather pricey a pint of lager at �3.10 nowadays, but its a great place for a quiet drink and the crossword
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Friendly pub, real ales including guest ales that change regularly
anonymous - 18 Sep 2006 13:06 |
Hmmm, this place seems to have some history, and it has to be commended for trying it's best.
However the place is still rather bland, and �2.70 for a pint of ale? Are they joking?
anonymous - 20 May 2006 19:21 |
Lots of students/university staff, tries hard with real ale,darts etc.
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A relaxed and informal pub with good beer and friendly staff. Lounge and public bars.
Freida Waterhut - 7 Sep 2004 15:49 |
